Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center is to enrich the experiences of all who wish to grow in knowledge and appreciation of the history and culture of African-derived cultures, highlighting those in Gainesville and North Central Florida and the African American music legacy.
- Income
- $141,770
- Spending
- $147,236
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- 1. Celebrated and promoted African and African American visual arts with the following 2025 exhibits: The Unseen South: Charles Eady Revisits History (The Charles Eady Collection); Painted Roots: Images of Black Southern Life (The Ernest Lee Collection); The Wisdom of Ananse: Ceramic Sculptures by Alex Awuku (The Alex Awuku Collection). Promotion of the visual arts also included the continuation of the following exhibits: Paintings, Gourds, and Sankofa Birds (Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn Collection); Harriet Tubman painting (Vivian Filer Collection), Nina Simone and James Baldwin painting (Donated by Yvonne Ferguson) 2. Telling the story of African American history. The Plantation Room, a research display on plantations in Alachua County that includes the location, owners, and history of each. A collection of figurines that depicts famous African Americans from various professions; the celebration of Florida Emancipation Day (May 20); Juneteenth; A Journey Home: Mangnye's Adventures in Africa; and the Black Cowboys and Black Cowgirls Festival. 3. Exposed the community to excellent artistic performances and cultural presentations that included: The Juneteenth Breakfast; Black Music Month Celebration; a Kwanzaa Celebration; and An Afternoon with Zora, which explored the works of author, Zora Neal Hurston.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.